Roads
and
Pavements

Mr.
Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State
for Communities and Local Government what the budget of each local
authority for road and pavement maintenance was in each of the last two
years; and what the overspend or underspend of each was in each year.
[85777]

Information on
local authorities highway maintenance budgets is not held
centrally.

The
Department provides capital maintenance funding to English local
highways authorities, outside London, for investment in their highway
network, including its structures and street lighting. It is for each
local authority to determine how their allocations are spent, in line
with their
priorities.

Supporting
People
Strategy

Sandra
Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government when her Department plans to publish
the Supporting People National Strategy; and if she will make a
statement.
[86092]

Mr.
Woolas: I published an initial strategy paper for
consultation, Creating Sustainable Communities in
November of last year. Following extensive consultation, I published
Supporting Independence: Next Steps in our Supporting People
Strategy on the 11 July this year, which outlined a number of
potential areas for development of the programme. A final strategy is
currently being developed, and is planned for publication in the
autumn.

Training
Courses

Mrs.
Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on
training courses in the most recent year for which figures are
available.
[86832]

Angela
E. Smith: DCLG central spent £3.92million on
learning and development activities for the financial year
2005-06

Valuation Office
Agency

Mrs.
Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government what representatives from the
Valuation Office Agency attended the IRRV conference in Blackpool in
May; and to what extent they participated.
[83094]

Mr.
Woolas: Ministers are responsible for Government policy.
The actions of, and naming of, individual civil servants are not
matters for public
discussion.

Valuebill
Database

Mrs.
Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government what assessment the Government have
made of whether the planned valuebill database will hold sensitive
personal data as defined by the Data Protection Act 1998.
[86833]

Mr.
Woolas: Valuebill aims to improve the electronic exchange
of property information between local authorities and the Valuation
Office Agency and to better link existing property databases through
the provision of a unique property reference number. The information
exchanges that Valuebill seeks to facilitate do not relate to sensitive
personal information within the definition of the Data Protection
Act.

Defence

Afghanistan

Mr.
Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart
regarding the draw down of US troops from Afghanistan and the security
plans thereafter; and if he will make a statement.
[85109]

Des
Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10
July 2006, Official Report, column 1138, to the hon. Member for
Woodspring (Dr.
Fox).

Mr.
Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence pursuant to his oral statement of 10 July 2006, Official
Report, columns 1131-48, on Afghanistan (troop levels), how many
extra (a) medical and (b) logistical support personnel
will be deployed as part of the additional deployment to Helmand
Province; and when they will arrive.
[85114]

Des
Browne: On current plans, the enhancements to the Helmand
Taskforce announced on 10 July will include around 15 additional
medical support personnel and 150 logistics support personnel, all of
whom will deploy around
September.

Mr.
Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence what discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and (b) Secretary of
State for International Development regarding the reconstruction effort
in Afghanistan.
[85756]

Des
Browne: I have regular discussions with my colleagues, the
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the
Secretary of State for International Development, on a wide range of
issues.

20 July 2006 : Column 593W

Armed Forces Compensation
Scheme

Mr.
Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence what assessment he has made of whether the Armed Forces
Compensation Scheme tariff is being applied in the same way in relation
to mental ill health and physical injury; and if he will make a
statement.
[85310]

Mr.
Watson [holding answer 14 July 2006]: The
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme is a tariff based scheme designed to
provide compensation for service personnel injured, made ill or killed
through service since 6 April 2005. The tariffs cover the full range of
injuries, physical and mental, likely to affect service personnel. The
Scheme is administered by the Veterans Agency which applies the same
determination process to all conditions whether physical or mental. An
evaluation of all aspects of the first year of operation of the Scheme
is currently being; carried out involving interested parties, one of
which is Combat Stress. The evaluation will be in the light of
experience and evidence of cases arising so far, including those who
have suffered from mental health
issues.

Colombia

Mr.
Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2006, Official Report,
column 703W, on Colombia, whether he has made an assessment of the
extent to which the training given for the disposal of explosive
devices is within the de-mining framework of the Human Rights Programme
of the Colombian Vice-Presidency and the anti personnel mines
observatory; and if he will make a statement.
[85299]

Mr.
Ingram: The explosive device disposal assistance provided
to the Colombian armed forces by the MOD through its humanitarian
de-mining training sits very well within the de-mining framework of the
Human Rights Programme of the Colombian Vice-Presidency. The work of
the latter is done through the Anti-Personnel Mines Observatory, as the
Colombian Governments vehicle for the application of the Ottawa
Convention.

The
Observatory aims to achieve its goals by following an action plan that
includes: the generation of knowledge and information on landmine
issues, prevention, assistance to victims and removal of mines;
promoting the solidarity of the international community for developing
national actions in applying the Ottawa convention; education work to
help prevention; promoting humanitarian de-mining; and regulating,
disseminating, promoting, applying and monitoring various aspects of
the De-mining National Plan, including the Regime of Collection and
Destruction of anti-personnel
mines.

MOD personnel
providing de-mining training enter into consultation with personnel
from the Anti-Personnel Mines Observatory to ensure the training we
give ties-in with their action plan. MOD humanitarian de-mining
training affects the removal of mines, and promotes public education
and awareness of landmine issues. Thus it is well positioned to meet a
number of the Vice Presidents priorities.

20 July 2006 : Column 594W

The
humanitarian de-mining training provided by the MOD in 2006 conformed
to the International Mines Action Standards (IMAS) 2005. This is the
acknowledged international standard approved by the UN and is used
worldwide. We have an aspiration that for future courses Colombian
students will gain IMAS accreditation through such
training.

FEPOW
Scheme

Mr.
Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence pursuant to the written statement of 30 January 2006,
Official Report, columns 2-3WS, on Far East Prisoners of War and
Civilian Internees (FEPOW Scheme), when he expects to announce the
findings of Mr. Watkins report; and if he will make
a statement.
[87006]

Mr.
Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial
statement that I made on 19 July 2006, Official Report, columns
26-27 WS.

International
Security Assistance
Force

Nick
Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence what recent discussions he has had with NATO allies on the
provision of additional troops and resources to the International
Security Assistance Force.
[84898]

Des
Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I
gave on 10 July 2006, Official Report, column 1143, to my hon.
Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mike
Gapes).

Iraq

Mr.
Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence whether an evaluation of the experience of dealing with the
TMRP-6 mine in Bosnia has been carried out in the context of the
emergence of explosively formed projectile mines in Iraq.
[82572]

Mr.
Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has an established process
to review operational experiences, which provides the primary mechanism
whereby we can translate lessons and best practice into enhanced
capability. Lessons learned from our experience of the TMRP-6 have been
evaluated and where appropriate implemented. However, we must be
careful not to generalise conclusions drawn from one specific threat as
the improvised threats we currently face on operations are not easily
characterised.

Mr.
Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence pursuant to the Answer by the Solicitor-General of 5 July 2006,
Official Report, column 1111W, on Iraq, what investigations he
has undertaken into the practice of wetting; how far up the chain of
command knowledge of the practice extended; and what steps he has taken
to ensure that the practice is not continued.
[84361]

Mr.
Watson: Wetting is not an official military procedure
although the military chain of command is aware that this practice is
alleged to have taken place in specific cases which have been
individually investigated.

20 July 2006 : Column 595W

All officers and soldiers
receive training in ethics throughout their careers. Training is first
provided during Initial Training, when a soldier or officer joins the
Army, with further training linked to rank and responsibility, usually
when an officer or soldier is promoted. In addition, every officer and
soldier receives refresher training on an annual basis through the
Military Annual Training Tests which maintain Common Military Skills.
This routine training is reinforced during Pre-Deployment Training
where all soldiers and officers receive refresher training on the
Values and Standards of the British Army, Equality and Diversity and
the Law of Armed
Conflict.

Where there
are any allegations that soldiers have failed to act within the law or
their rules of engagement, those allegations will be investigated and
where appropriate, action will be taken against individuals.

Military
Vehicles

Mr.
Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence whether his Department has carried out an assessment of the
design of the Force Protection MUV-R Joint Light Tactical Vehicle
prototype for suitability as a tactical patrol vehicle for the British
Army.
[82494]

Mr.
Ingram: We continually review new developments across the
defence industry. We are aware of the Force Protection Inc. MUV-R and
as the Secretary of State announced on 26 June we are conducting a
review of the options for protected patrol vehicles to determine what
can be done as soon as possible and in the longer
term.

Mr.
Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence what the official designation is of the Snatch Land Rover; when
it was first produced for the British Army; how many versions have been
produced; how many of each version have been produced; what levels of
ballistic protection each version offers; and what the approximate cost
per vehicle is of the current version.
[82508]

Mr.
Ingram: The original SNATCH Land Rover was produced in
1992 and a total of 991 were procured. There have been four different
upgrades producing five variants as
follows:

(1)
Refurbished from SNATCH 1(2
)Modified from SNATCH 1 and
1.5(3 )Programme to refurbish
from SNATCH 1 and 1.5 currently
ongoing(4) Refurbished from
SNATCH land 1.5

20 July 2006 : Column 596W

30 SNATCH have
been removed from service leaving a current total of 961. The
approximate cost of a SNATCH 2A is around £60,000. We do not
comment on protection levels, as disclosure would, or would be likely
to, prejudice the security of our armed
forces.

Nuclear
Deterrent

Dr.
Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State
for Defence on what date he was first informed of the Chancellor of the
Exchequers public commitment to retention of the nuclear
deterrent in the long-term.
[87096]

Des
Browne: I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave
the hon. Member on 5 July 2006, Official Report, column
1107W.

Review Board for
Government
Contracts

Mr.
Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence pursuant to the written statement of 22 June 2006, Official
Report, column 99WS, on the report by the Review Board for
Government Contracts, when he will place a copy of the report in the
Library.
[86493]

Mr.
Ingram: Hard copies of the Review Boards 2006
Annual Review, published by The Stationery Office (TSO), will be placed
in the Library this week. An electronic copy of the report is available
on the main MOD website at the following
address:

Submarines

Mr.
Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of the decommissioning of
the Vanguard Class submarines.
[86874]

Des
Browne: Decommissioning of the Vanguard Class submarines
is still some way off. Officials are investigating decommissioning
costs as part of the work to prepare for decisions, which will be taken
later this year, on the future of the United Kingdoms nuclear
deterrent.

Mr.
Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence whether the Astute Class submarines have been considered as the
launch platform for the next generation of Trident missiles.
[86942]

Des
Browne: Work is now under way to prepare for decisions on
the future of the United Kingdoms nuclear deterrent, which will
be taken later this year. Ministers have been briefed by officials on
some of the relevant issues and have requested that further work be
undertaken. It is too early to rule in or out any particular
option.

Trident

Mr.
Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence what the annual maintenance cost of the Trident weapons system
is expected to be in 2006-07; and what the cost was in each of the last
five years. [86875]

20 July 2006 : Column 597W

Des
Browne: The annual expenditure for capital and running
costs of the Trident nuclear deterrent, including costs for the Atomic
Weapons Establishment, is expected to be between 5 and 5.5 per cent. of
the Defence budget in 2006-07. For the costs in the last five years, I
refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for
Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone) on 3 July 2006, Official
Report, column
713W.

Home
Department

Correspondence

Sir
Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of
State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter dated 27
March from the right hon. Member for
20 July 2006 : Column 598WManchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. M. Wood, transferred
from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
[79487]

John
Reid: A reply was sent to my right hon. Friend on 5 May
2006. I will arrange for a copy of the reply to be sent to
you.